The Saunders in NC

We're livin it up in NC. Wiggy is a Family Medicine Intern at Moses Cone Hospital in Greensboro and Emily is still managing a Recruiting Firm. We have 2 "babies" Jasper and Ellie. Add sports, running, fitness classes, church and fun in the mix and that's us!!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

2010 was an awesome year in the Saunders house! We are feeling so very blessed to have had so many great things happen in a year. Our lives are so full of wonderful activities and people and it really just gives me butterflies :)

Wiggy and I spent Christmas with my family in Maryland and West Virginia and got our fill of snow I might add. It was wonderful to see my entire family and be able to spend some quality time with my grandparents as well as see some old friends for a fun Christmas Eve lunch! I love to go back home and talk about old times. It's almost a little like going back in time there!

Wiggy and I hosted New Years Eve at our house with lots of our fitness focused friends along with my new friend Doug. Doug has had a tough life thus far with a family that tries to control him by force-feeding him his entire life. He weighs 600 lbs but with the support of lots of new friends and a weight loss challenge I know he will succeed in losing a significant amount of weight and gaining a life! His story is incredibly sad and almost makes me sick to my stomach, but all I can do is be there for him and that's the plan! In fact, he will be attendigng church for the first time in years with Me and Wiggy this Sunday!

This past Sunday our Church Small group hosted a 3-D night at the Bethesda Center for the Homeless. We had a wonderful time praising God with a fantastic group of people who are down on their luck. It is truly amazing to see those who have so little be so thankful and to REALLY praise God for their blessings. We will be returning in a few months and I'm already looking forward to it!

I am still setting my goals for the New Year as I want to be able to really focus on them! Will keep you posted!

Friday, December 3, 2010

I cannot believe it's December! Wow.. where does the time go? So much has happened over the last few weeks! Wiggy and I had an incredible time in Vegas. I told many people that I would "die" if I placed in the Top 10 at Fitness America and here I am in 8th Place and still standing. I feel so blessed to have met the many people that have helped me along this journey. I NEVER expected to place so well in my first competition and I'm so very proud of my husband who placed 12th out of 74 men... AMAZING! We were able to meet so many people in the Fitness and/or Modeling industries and got some really useful Feedback! I can't wait for next year!

Thanksgiving was really really nice! We spent the Holiday at Tim and Laurie's house with our friends Michael and Carrie, Christian and Gregg and a 9 months pregnant Tiffany. We had a big smorgasbord buffet with lots of yummy food and then were entertained by Break Dancing children. What fun!

Wiggy and I got in some Black Friday shopping and had a really nice and relaxing weekend. I even saw TWO movies! Our house is cozily decorated for the Holiday and I am looking forward to the arrival of my parents this evening for a weekend of shopping! I feel so blessed for the many wonderful people that I have in my life and for the fact that God has provided us with a beautiful home and the two greatest pets in the World. We have found a wonderful Church and Small group that is made up of amazing people! I miss my family dearly all the time, but Winston-Salem is truly home!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Oh my it's been a while since I've updated! I will start back at the October show.. I am very proud of my Jillfit girls all of whom did fantastic in their first competition! I am thrilled that it was a positive experience for all and that they will be competing again! I ended up placing 4th in my class (of about 12 girls if I remember correctly). It was definitely a tough bunch! We all had a wonderful weekend in Charlotte. Wiggy and I met up with my childhood friend Heather on Sunday for brunch then went to see "9 to 5" off broadway.

Shortly after arriving home Wiggy and I started discussing the FAP show in Vegas. We had decided we wouldn't compete this year but instead wait until next... Well... the plans changed. We will be leaving next Thursday for Las Vegas and our first glimpse of the national stage. I must admit I'm a bit nervous but also very excited! We will both be competing in the Fitness Model Division.

In other news, Wiggy's best friend Brian got married last weekend in Nebraska. We had a wonderful time and I am thrilled for Brian and his new wife Kinsey. Brian and Wiggy have been friends forever. They grew up 2 doors down from each other and though they are quite different they couldn't be better friends. Wiggy was Brian's bet Man (and Brian was his at our wedding 5 years ago) and his speech was amazing. Even after hearing it rehearsed many times it still made me teary eyed! We also had a chance to enjoy Wiggy's family while back in NE which is always a nice treat.

Finally, our basement is completed! It looks great and I am so excited to start training clients next week! It is by no means exactly how I want it but the improvements are complete and it looks great!

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Here we are in the midst of fall! The weather is still quite warm but I think we've all felt that switch from Summer to the brisk mornings and cool evenings that require long pants and sweaters now and then. Amidst all of this my Jillfit girls and I have been hard at work preparing for the Mid Atlantic Classic that takes place this Saturday! I am so proud of my 3 clients that will be competing in their first fitness competition and am honored to share the stage with them. I have learned a lot from them over the past 3 months and I hope they have learned from me too! It's an exciting yet difficult week... the last dry meals that require immense amounts of self control.... basically they are amazing!

In other news, Wiggy has sold his printing business and will be moving it out this weekend! Our workers will start on finishing our basement next Thursday and I'm super excited!

Wiggy's Mom visited us two weekends ago for a wonderful time. We spent time downtown, enjoyed a play at our new arts center, shopped a bit and enjoyed lots of time chatting. We've also enjoyed WFU football (even though it's kind of a tough year) and lots of activities with our friends. Our new Bible Study group started 3 weeks ago and we have loved the fellowship thus far!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

It's still warm around here, but not nearly as steamy as it was a month ago and a busy month it has been! Wiggy completed Renal, the most dreaded rotation of residency and a celebration was had. It was a very tough month but it's over! September has been busy with the beginning of my Junior League New Member year, becoming more involved in our new church, River Oaks Community Church and keeping up with my own training and training clients. I am competing in the NPC Mid-Atlantic Classic in 3.5 weeks and looking forward to sharing the stage with 3 of my clients! It's been a wonderful experience watching them transform and become more confident in all areas of their lives!

Labor Day weekend was Wiggy's BF Brian's bachelor party in Kansas City and they had a great time. I stayed home and spent some time with the girls then Wiggy joined me for a nice long Labor Day Hike on Monday at Hanging Rock after arriving home. This past weekend was my Uncle's wedding back home in MD and a great time was had by all. My parents hosted the Rehearsal Dinner and although we almost froze I think everyone really enjoyed themselves. I am happy that things will be slowing down this weekend and looking forward to Wiggy's Mom visiting us next weekend!

Saturday, August 14, 2010

It's HOT in the Twin City! The last few weeks have been really busy but fun! My Grandparents visit really nice and then my parents visited the following weekend. With Meme and Grand we had several yummmy meals and did some shopping. With Mom and Daddy we also had several great meals and went to a musical based on Fishing in the Outer Banks... right up Daddy's alley. Wiggy and I have decided to finish our basement and will probably take our house off the market for a while and just enjoy it as is. We've had lots of showings, but no real interest thus far. But that's fine! Today was my first New Member meeting for the Jr. League of Winston-Salem. I am really excited to be a part of such an amazing group of young, educated and professional women. This year Women's Health/Obesity is a new focus...yay! We've been enjoying as much of Summer as possible... Wiggy is now on a very tough rotation, Renal... he is ready for it to be OVER! Tonight we were able to go to the Meridian Seafood Festival which was quite fun. Work has been crazy busy for both of us...Lots of great stuff going on with Jillfit including my pictures in Family Circle Magazine this month! Yay!

Friday, July 23, 2010

I am proud to say that Wiggy and I both won the Fitness Model Division at our recent competition in Roanoake VA! It was a very fun weekend complete with a well-run show and lots of nice people. Following the show they had an Afterparty- FREE for all competitiors! It was really nice to have such special treatment. The next day we hiked up Star Mountain prior to returning home. I am so proud of Wiggy!

In other news, our house is on the market! We found another house that we LOVE nearby that would be a bit of an upgrade for us. We are really happy where we are, but are hoping to take advantage of the market.

My lovely Grandparents are coming to visit tonight! I am very excited to see them as it's been a long time since their last visit.